Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)(Civil Engineering) / Law

6 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Law at UNSW Sydney gives you a rare combination of technical engineering expertise and professional legal knowledge. It’s perfect if you’re curious about how complex systems are designed and built, while also understanding the legal frameworks that shape industry, contracts, and society.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
In the first year, you’ll build a strong foundation in engineering with subjects like Mathematics, Physics, Computing, and Introduction to Engineering Design and Innovation. At the same time, you’ll begin your law studies with core courses introducing you to the legal system, legal reasoning, and communication — essential skills for any aspiring lawyer.

Year 2:
The second year broadens your engineering knowledge with more specialised courses, while in law you’ll dive deeper into subjects such as contracts, torts, and public law. This combination helps you start thinking critically about both technical challenges and legal frameworks in practical contexts.

Years 3–4:
By the third and fourth years, your engineering studies focus on advanced technical projects and professional practice, preparing you for real-world engineering problems. In law, you’ll continue with core units and electives that explore different areas of legal practice, giving you a broader understanding of how law operates across industries.

Years 5–6.7:
In the final years, you’ll complete all remaining engineering requirements while finishing your law units. This stage integrates your learning across both disciplines, combining technical problem-solving, research, and advocacy skills, so you graduate with two strong, complementary qualifications.

Focus areas

Engineering fundamentals, civil and technical electives, legal reasoning and practice, contracts, torts, public law, and legal communication.

Learning outcomes

Graduates develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills, legal research and argument abilities, cross-disciplinary critical thinking, professional communication skills, and readiness to tackle complex challenges in both technical and legal environments.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The engineering component is accredited by Engineers Australia, while the law component equips students with the knowledge required for professional legal practice in Australia.

Reputation

UNSW Engineering is highly ranked nationally and globally for engineering and technology, and UNSW Law & Justice is recognized as one of the top law schools in Australia and internationally, making graduates highly attractive to employers across technical, legal, and policy sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At UNSW, learning goes far beyond lectures and textbooks. From the start, you’ll get plenty of opportunities to apply what you’re learning in real-world situations, both as an engineer and as a law student. In engineering, you’ll complete at least 60 days of Industrial Training, putting your technical knowledge into practice on real projects and gaining hands-on experience that prepares you for professional life. On the law side, you’ll have access to internships, law clinics, and competitions, letting you experience how legal work is done in practice and develop your advocacy, research, and client skills. Group projects and collaborative work are built into both disciplines, helping you strengthen teamwork, communication, and leadership skills in a professional context:

You’ll experience practical opportunities such as:

Engineering Industrial Training placements, where you work in real engineering environments and tackle genuine problems, building confidence and professional skills before graduation.
Hands-on design projects and team-based challenges in engineering courses, giving you experience in problem-solving, project management, and innovation.
Law internships and work placements, offering exposure to professional legal workplaces and practical understanding of how law operates in real situations.
Law clinics and competitions, where you work on real or simulated cases under expert supervision, developing practical legal skills and client interaction experience.
Collaborative learning spaces and resources across both faculties, supporting research, teamwork, and project-based learning for real-world applications.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this double degree leave UNSW ready to step into careers that combine technical engineering skills with strong legal knowledge. You could work as an Engineering Consultant, a Legal Advisor in construction or technology sectors, a Contract Specialist, or a Risk Management Analyst, giving you flexibility to move between engineering, law, and corporate roles. The combination of problem-solving, communication, and analytical skills makes you highly sought after across industries:

Career support services: UNSW’s Careers and Employment team, along with the dedicated Law & Justice careers service, provide tailored guidance, workshops, mentoring, networking events, and access to internships and graduate roles to help you transition confidently into professional life.
Employment reputation: UNSW Law & Justice is ranked among the top law schools nationally and globally, while UNSW Engineering graduates are highly regarded in industry — together, this double degree is recognized and respected by employers worldwide.
University–industry partnerships: The program connects you with real-world projects, internships, law clinics, competitions, and industry partners, giving you professional experience and building your network before you graduate.
Long-term accreditation value: The engineering component is accredited by Engineers Australia, and the law component prepares you for the pathway to legal practice in Australia, giving your qualifications credibility both locally and internationally.
Graduation outcomes: You’ll leave with the skills employers actively seek: technical expertise, legal insight, analytical thinking, and professional communication — opening doors across consulting firms, construction companies, government agencies, law firms, and policy organisations.

Further Academic Progression:
After this degree, you can continue your studies in a number of directions. Options include a Master of Engineering to specialise further, a Master of Laws (LLM) for legal specialisation, or postgraduate research in either engineering or law. You could also complete the Graduate Diploma in Legal Professional Practice, which is a pathway toward formally practising law in Australia.